Norwegian sprinter Alexander Kristoff won the first stage of the CRO Race 2024. The Uno-X Mobility sprinter was the fastest in the final pack after 162.5 kilometers between Vodice and Sinj and became the first leader of the European race.
The experienced Scandinavian rider, who took his seventh victory of the season, crossed the finish line in first place, narrowly beating Italians Alberto Bruttomesso (Bahrain – Victorious) and Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti Kometa), who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
As for the Colombians, Jhonatan Restrepo (Team Polti Kometa) was the best of our team, reporting in 110th position, 6:27 behind the winner, while Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates) was 120th, more than 12 minutes behind Kristoff.
The breakaway of the day was led by Dutchman Axel van der Tuuk (Metec – SOLARWATT p/b Mantel), Czech Filip Reha (ATT Investments), Australian Cyrus Monk (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), and Spaniards Jokin Murguialday (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA) and Francisco Muñoz (Team Polti Kometa), but in the end they were all neutralized by the main peloton.
The Croatian UCI calendar race will continue on Wednesday with a short 114.5-kilometer stage between Biograd na Moru and Novalja, which includes two mountain passes.
Cro Race (2.1)
Results Stage 1 | Vodice – Sinj (162,5 km)
| 1 | Alexander Kristoff | Uno-X Mobility | 3:53:02 |
| 2 | Giovanni Lonardi | Team Polti Kometa | ,, |
| 3 | Alberto Bruttomesso | Bahrain – Victorious | ,, |
| 4 | Anders Foldager | Team Jayco AlUla | ,, |
| 5 | Elia Viviani | INEOS Grenadiers | ,, |
| 6 | Oded Kogut | Israel – Premier Tech | ,, |
| 7 | Jordy Bouts | TDT – Unibet Cycling Team | ,, |
| 8 | Sam Welsford | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | ,, |
| 9 | Javier Serrano | Team Polti Kometa | ,, |
| 10 | Marcin Budzinski | Mazowsze Serce Polski | ,, |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico